Sway Me (book 1)

Chapter Forty Four - Heavy

44. Heavy
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I left

Maybe I shouldn't have but I did, I guess I'm a coward after all. Giulia was hurt and I was hurt.

I should have spoken to her, I should have listened to Giovanni, maybe things might have been different, maybe I would not be sitting in an airport bench alone running away from the disaster I had created.

The overhead speakers crackled to life, cutting through the ambient noise, snapping me from my thoughts. A calm, clear voice announced, "Attention, passengers. We are now boarding Flight 567 to New York City. Please proceed to Gate 14."

My heart raced at the mention of New York,but it wasn't because of excitement rather it was pain, I had not imagined that my friendship with Giulia will end because of this trip.

You had not imagined you'd fall in love.

I glanced at the ticket in my hand, the weight of it heavy against my chest. Giulia wanted me gone. She did not want to see me and it hurts.

As I walked toward the gate, it felt like my heart and lungs were being pressed down against my ribs restricting my airflow and blood. I heard a familiar voice calling my name. I turned to see Giovanni sprinting toward me, his expression frantic.

"Emily! Wait!" he shouted, weaving through the crowd.

I stopped abruptly stunned that he was here. Did Giulia tell him that she sent me away? Why would she? a mix of emotions was swirling inside of me—guilt, betrayal, and confusion. "What are you doing here, Giovanni?"

"Please, don't board that flight," he pleaded, breathless. "We need to talk."

"How is Giulia ?" I asked, my voice shaking.

He went silent, his silence told me one thing, Giulia was still standing firm on her decision.

"Giulia was right you know—I hurt her, and I betrayed her trust. I should never have gotten myself entangled with you, I should have know that you were off limits."

"What are you saying?" He asked, a frown settled on his face.

I ran my fingers through my hair frustrated at the situation and I said those four words I should never have uttered "You are a mistake," It felt like daggers going through my chest but it did not feel as bad as watching Giovanni's face morph into pain and sadness.

Now I have hurt him.

"I have to leave now," I added. He looked frozen to the ground, I was about leaving when he held my hands.

He stepped closer, intensity in his eyes. "I know you did not mean that. You're running away! You can't just leave because things got hard. We can fix this together!"

"Fix what? The mess I created? I betrayed my best friend for you!" I shot back, more frustration bubbling to the surface. "What do you expect me to do, stay and pretend everything is fine?"

Giovanni ran a hand through his hair, frustration etched on his face. "You're not a being real with yourself right now ."

"Exactly! None of this is even real. It should never have happened," I said, my heart aching, I had indirectly said our time together was a mistake, I was hurting him. What in the hell was wrong with me!

"Emily—" he started, but I cut him off.

"I have to go," I said, my voice firm despite the tears streaming down my cheeks. "I'm sorry, Giovanni."